Flaherty, McDonald, Menzel and West Side Story Featured on Macy's 4th of July Celebration
By Adam Hetrick
04 Jul 2009
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Audra McDonald
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| photo by Michael Wilson | The Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Celebration, featuring the work of Tony winner Stephen Flaherty and the vocals of Audra McDonald and Idina Menzel, is held on the Hudson River July 4.
The 9 PM celebration is telecast live on NBC television and on 1010 WINS radio from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York Harbor.
Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, The Glorious Ones) was commissioned to write "American River Suite" — featuring lyrics by William Schermerhorn — to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the exploration of New York Harbor and the Hudson River.
New York Pops music director Steven Reineke conducts the Pops' performance of the piece that features previously recorded vocals by McDonald (Twelfth Night, Ragtime, Carousel), Menzel (Wicked, Rent) and an appearance from the Choir Academy of Harlem.
The celebration will also include a performance from the Broadway revival of West Side Story, as well as appearances by Rob Thomas and Jewel.
Flaherty's "American River Suite" originally premiered as part of The New York Pops' 26th Birthday Gala in April, featuring Menzel and Tony winner Anika Noni Rose (Caroline, or Change, "Dreamgirls").
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